My 10th Half Marathon

Saturday morning I completed my10th Half Marathon by running in the inaugural Bill Snyder Highway Half Marathon! My time was 2:12:10...just a bit faster than my time in March and this was a much more challenging course!

This run started out on highway 77 close to the interstate and the course led us into Manhattan.

I had my concerns about this race. With it being so late in the spring and knowing this would be one of the more challenging courses I have ever run regarding hills, I wasn't sure what to expect and made no goals for achieving a certain time.

However, the weather turned out to be ideal. It was in the mid 50s, overcast and while it was humid there was a slight breeze was at our backs for the 8 mile run into town.

It was great to see our running buddy Amy again! Kim and I ran most of our long training runs together this time around...now I just have to talk her into our next racing goal for the future! :)

I had been worried earlier in the week how I would feel for this race. Having strep throat the week before had really taken it's toll on me and I wasn't sure how I would do. To my surprise, I really felt great and was averaging under a 9:39 pace at the 10K mark in this race! 

The wheels fell off for me around mile 10. The run through campus was hilly and a struggle and my pace suffered. But I never stopped to walk once and I am still pretty happy with my time! For the first time since 2011 I accomplished a goal of running two half marathons in one year!

7 on the 1st Day of Summer

Today is the first official day of summer vacation for the boys!  And it also happens to be this guy's 7th birthday!

He was up bright and early for birthday donuts and presents and couldn't be more excited to FINALLY be turning 7 years old (as he has told us...everyone else is already 7!)  He's had a great year and we are so proud of how far he has come in school this year.

Collin is still our sweet, smart, independent and quick witted young man.  It's still hard to get him to try new things and he is still not a fan of heights or large dogs.  He has such a creative imagination, loves to draw and is AMAZING at math!  He is still a total charmer and his skills at negotiation have only increased with age.  He still loves legos, dinosaurs and right now anything to do with the Avengers.

Happy 7th Birthday to our independent thinking and caring Collin Riley Bunger.  What a blessing you are to us each day.

Update

It's been a while since I posted on my blog, so it's time for an update!

Last week we celebrated Chad's 38th birthday! And then he left for a few days on a flyfishing trip to Colorado with some guys from church. It sounds like the weather was interesting...but I guess being hailed on twice is still better than a good day at work?

This past Friday we also took a group of our Eisenhower middle school students who qualified on a trip to worlds 

of fun! I took both the boys along with me and we had a great day!

20 years ago, when I went on my senior band trip to worlds of fun I was all about the thrillseeking rides. And while I still rode the Patriot and had a blast, somewhere in the past 20 years, I have developed a bit of a fear of heights and pretty much stayed grounded for the day. Which Collin didn't mind one bit!

Mitchell however spent the entire day riding all the huge roller coasters with our principal and I had a great 

day too!

And somewhere in the middle of all the busy end of the year happenings, I developed a crazy case of strep throat. Not what I was expecting and totally took the wind out of my sails for two days. But I am feeling better and still managed to run over 14 miles this week.

Less than one week until my 10th half marathon!

The Best and 300

I have now logged over 300 Miles in 2015! I have been trying my best to focus on running as many hills as possible, and also getting out in the humid conditions. I haven't been fast but I'm hoping this kind of training will pay off for me both mentally and physically for my upcoming race.

And today Collin brought me home one of the best Mother's Day cards ever. So simple and so sweet.  1st grade handmade cards are the sooprist.

1st Grade Field Trip and Another 12 Miles

Friday was a perfect day for a 1st grade field trip to the Milford Nature Center with this little guy!!

What a fun day and a fun group of kiddos.  Collin has had a wonderful year and we owe a great deal of his success to his amazing teacher!  

 Saturday morning Kim and I got our last training long run completed!  12.25 miles with  more hills than either of us would have liked...but we made it and now it is time to taper for next few weeks.  And this week I should complete 300 miles for 2015!

And while I was completing this run my boys were out on another great camping adventure.

Not bad a weekend for the Bunger Family!